Valve Boss Calls Windows 8 A 'Catastrophe'

[Gamburd]

"This is seen by commentators to be a reference to the inclusion of a Windows Store in the Microsoft operating system.

This is a shop through which users will be able to buy apps for their Windows 8 device.

On some versions of Windows 8, it will be the only way to get downloadable software such as games.

Microsoft takes a cut, up to 30%, of every sale made through this store.

This could be a significant threat to the massively successful Steam online game store that Valve runs and which gives it a commission on every title sold through the online market.

A Windows Store closed to everyone but Microsoft might reduce the range of games available for sale through Steam.

Windows 8's links with Microsoft's Xbox Live online game service could also dent the appeal of Steam for many people."



http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-18996377

[[Mad_Murdock]]

Ah yes, Windows 8, for those of us who want to turn our PC into an upjumped smartphone.

[Grobut]

If MS wants to turn the PC into a cloused platform, then it will be the death of Windows, not the death of the PC.

[gautrek]

Am I missing something here.

One harbinger of this future was perhaps found, he said, in the success of one Team Fortress player in Kansas who was earning $150,000 (£97,000) a year making virtual hats.

So this guy is making all this money selling virtual stuff to people who should have more sense.The world has gone mad.

[Zennousha]

Everyone knew it was going to be horrible, knowing the way Windows works.

A **** version always follows a good one. So naturally whatever Windows comes after the failure that is Windows 8 will be good.

[Alexander Ostmann]

I use Windows 8 and I am impressed by how fast it is. It's not clunky or hard to use. You'd have to be an idiot not to understand how to use it. It's not drastically different than Windows 7 except for the home screen with all the icons. Everyone seems to hate new things, like new Facebook layout, new Windows layout, new Steam layouts. It's ridiculous.

Now the whole situation with closing Windows off to just Microsoft products is a bit scary. That would definitely be detrimental to the OS.

[Murphy]

Originally Posted by Alexander Ostmann

You'd have to be an idiot not to understand how to use it.

That is often the hallmark of terrible, restrictive software.

Like some photo-album organizer your mom brought home for free from the mall and it has five huge glassy buttons and a bunch of stock photos of smiling couples at the top... You definitely would have to be an idiot not to understand how to use it, but try changing the page background to a custom pattern, try to moving photos a little closer together than the default layouts, and perhaps more importantly, try using the file-type that program saves anywhere but in the Mall's-Name's Photoservice...

Intuitive usability and ergonomics are very important, of course! This is just my experience with any kind of software that has big glassy buttons so I'm very prejudiced against Windows 8.

[Alexander Ostmann]

Originally Posted by Murphy

I'm very prejudiced against Windows 8.

Have you used it yet?

[Nezzer]

Originally Posted by Zennousha

Everyone knew it was going to be horrible, knowing the way Windows works.

A **** version always follows a good one. So naturally whatever Windows comes after the failure that is Windows 8 will be good.

That's exactly why I don't have much faith in Windows 8. Haven't tried it yet, but I don't expect much from it.

[Major Liability]

I very much hope there aren't programs or games that won't work on 7 that do work on 8. Hell, I'm not even switching from XP until they stop supporting it entirely (tried 7, went back a month later due to compatibility issues).

[Murphy]

Originally Posted by Alexander Ostmann

Have you used it yet?

No.

[Alexander Ostmann]

Originally Posted by Murphy

No.

Ahh okay.

[Hobitt]

Valve should make their own OS

[Major Liability]

Originally Posted by Hobitt

Valve should make their own OS

It's a good idea, but I'd like to be able to use my OS even when I don't have an internet connection.

[Shadrach]

I guess the 'every second Windows is good' rule applies here as well

But when/if "Windows 9" is out, hopefully Linux will have gotten to the point where it is possible to game on it. Getting Steam onto Linux will be a big, big part in making that happen.

Big question is, who's gonna make DirectX for Linux...

[Pagan]

Originally Posted by Shadrach

Big question is, who's gonna make DirectX for Linux...

I would hope Valve were working on that.

[Lt_Kettch]

Originally Posted by Pagan

I would hope Valve were working on that.

You guys are stupid nerds

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DirectX

Nobody will buy/use Windows because it is no improvement over Win7, end of story.

[Nestor Makhno]

But Open GL could get better, maybe?

[Moyako]

One question, when that judge said "APIs cannot be copyrighted", didn't he open the door for a DirectX adaptation to Linux?

Of course, I don't have any knowledge in programming, so could someone clarify this?

[CandleJack]

Originally Posted by Lt_Kettch

Nobody will buy/use Windows because it is no improvement over Win7, end of story.

Which isn't much of an improvement over WinXP.

So far as i can tell, XP does everything better than W7 except for S.T.A.L.K.E.R.'s MISERY mod.